Knockdown box



(N0 Model.) Q

0. F. BOSWORTH.

KNOGKDOWN BOX.

No. 426,231. Patented Apr. 22, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES F. BOSIVORTH, OF MILFORD, CONNECTICUT.

KNOCKDOWN BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 426,231, dated April22, 1890.

Application filed February 24, 1890. Serial No. 341,434;- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. BOSWORTH, of Milford, in the county ofNew Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented new Improvements inKnockdown Boxes; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings and the letters of referencemarked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same,and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, andrepresent, in-

Figure 1, a perspective view of the box complete; Fig. 2, a top view,the cover being removed; Fig. 3, a portion of one side, end, and key,showing the parts detached; Fig. 4:, a transverse section on line a: orof Fig. 1; Fig. 5, a perspective view of the key detached; Fig. 6, aperspective view of the blank for the key, illustrating the method offorming the tongues; Fi 7, a modification in the formation of the key.

This invention relates to an improvement in the construction of boxessuch as used for packing-cases, and in which the parts composing the boxare detachably connected, so that the box when not required for use maybe packed in a space substantially equal only to the bulk of thematerial of which the box is composed, this packing being convenient forstorage as well as for transportation of the boxes, the object oftheinvention being a simple and cheap construction, which will readilypermit the manufacture of the box and shipment from the manufactory tothe distant points in a compact shape, as also permit the storage of theboxes within asmall space; and the invention consists in theconstruction as hereinafter described, and particularly recited in theclaim.

The boxes are composed of two sides .A B, two ends CD, a bottom E, and acover F, the parts being made of a size, shape, and thicknesscorresponding to the purpose for which the boxes are designed to beused.

The angles between the sides and ends are mitered, as at a, Figs. 2 and3, and as near as may be to the mitered edges of the sides and endsdovetail or undercut grooves b are formed parallel with the said edgesand so that when the two edges are set together these two grooves willstand at substantially right angles to each other and as seen in Fig. 2.These grooves are cut alike at all the edges.

A key G is provided for each corner of the box, this key having upon itsedges projecting tongues (Z (Z, as seen in Figs. 3 and 5, correspondingto the two grooves in the parts to be connected. The key is best made oftriangular shape, so as to present in transverse section a right-angletriangle, the right angle being the outer edge and corresponding to theangle between the two parts to be connected. Then upon this right-angleedge a groove cis cut, as seen in Fig. 5, this groove presentingparallel sides and so as to form the tongues (Z d at right angles toeach other.

The sides and ends of the box to be united are set together, as in Fig.2, and then the tongues introduced and pressed down into the respectivegrooves, as seen in Fig. 2,which interlocks the sides and ends, so as tomake them inseparable until the tongues are removed by the Withdrawalfrom the said grooves.

The bottom E and the corresponding sur face of the sides and ends aretongued and grooved, as at f, Fig. 4-. The sides and ends are set ontothe bottom, the tongues and grooves interlocking, so that when the keysG are set in place the sides and ends firmly support the bottom Withoutother connection than that produced by the tongues and grooves. The oneend (or may be one side) is made of less height than the sides, as seenin Fig. 1, and the sides and their ends and the corresponding edges ofthe cover are tongued and grooved, so that the cover may slide intoplace over the end D, as seen in Figs. land 4. The cover may then besecured by a nail or screw into the end G, as at g, Fig. 1.

The box being set up, and before the cover is applied, it is filled likeotherboxes or cases, the cover applied and secured, when the case isready for shipment, and after the goods are removed the keys may bedrawn out and the parts readily separated, and may be packed into aspace equal only to the bulk of the ma terial itself; This packing isconvenient for shipment from the manufactory of the boxes,

for storage of the boxes, or for the return of the boxes after havingcarried their contents to their destination.

The box is of great strength and durability, so as to withstand manyshipments.

The keys may be made of any suitable material, preferably hard wood ormetal.

Instead of cutting the groove @into thekey, as I have described, the keymay be formed, as seen in Fig. 7, by cutting a rabbet in each side, asat h h, which will produce the same tongues 01 cl, as first described,and the key will fit close into the angle of the box.

\Vhile I prefer to apply the cover as I have described, so that it maybe interlocked with the sides and ends, the cover may be applied byscrewing it to the upper edge of the sides and ends or secured in any ofthe known methods for securing the cover.

I claim- I The herein-described knockdown box, composed of sides andends, the meeting edges of said sides and ends mitered and constructedwith undercut grooves near each of said mitered edges and paralleltherewith, combined with keys constructed with tongues corresponding tothe two adjacent grooves at the respective angles of the boxes, thetongues of said key adapted to set into said grooves in the parts of thebox and interlock therewith, with a bottom the edges of which and thecorresponding surface of the box are tongued and grooved, so that saidbottom may interlock with said sides and ends, substantially asdescribed. 1

CHARLES E. BOSYVORTH.

WVitnesses:

LILLIAN D. KELSEY, FRED C. EARLE.

